Category: Fresh Releases
Feature the latest music releases from artists across Africa and the global music community, includes singles, albums, and EPs, with brief reviews or insights into each release.
Davido, Mayorkun & FOLA Lead Music Custodian’s Latest Afrobeats Heat Different as African Music Continues Its Creative Expansion
African music enters August with remarkable confidence. This week’s edition of Afrobeats Heat Different captures a continent moving with intention, where established stars, emerging voices and unexpected collaborations collectively demonstrate the depth and diversity of today’s African sound. More than a collection of new releases, the playlist reflects an ecosystem in constant conversation with itself…
Custodian Conversations : Mich Straaw on Beautiful Hearts, Faith & Finding His Voice
Nigerian singer-songwriter Mich Straaw joins Music Custodian for an intimate conversation exploring creativity, surrender, faith, integrity and the making of Beautiful Hearts. From the Editor Every so often, Music Custodian encounters conversations that resist being reduced to promotional interviews. This was one of them. What began as a discussion around Beautiful Hearts gradually evolved into…
On ‘Ka bu bai’, Karyna Gomes Sings About Love, Distance & The Fear Of Goodbye
Ka bu bai (Don’t leave) gives life to the feeling of emptiness. The anxious goodbye when a lover has to leave yet the warmth of the last embrace makes distance impossible to bear. Karyna Gomes (GBR) is bringing us a gentle side, a song that celebrates the fragility of love when distance is mandatory. In the videoclip released…
We Are Nubia & Xenia Manasseh Announce New Collaborative Single “Longo Longo”
East Africa’s alternative music ecosystem continues to deepen its collaborative language. Kenyan collective We Are Nubia and singer-songwriter Xenia Manasseh have officially announced a new joint single titled Longo Longo, set for release this Friday, May 22. Accompanied by warm, emotionally textured cover art and a deeply intentional rollout message shared across social media, the…
MUSIC CUSTODIAN PARTNERS WITH SHIGH TO LAUNCH “MOST WANTED” — A NEW CROSS-GENRE ANTHEM FT. BAGETTI, CANDY BLEAKZ & LADÉ
Lagos, Nigeria — Music Custodian is proud to announce press activation support for “MOST WANTED”, the new single from SHigh, featuring Bagetti, Candy Bleakz and Ladé. The track is an audacious blend of street energy and melodic modern Afrobeats — a club-ready anthem crafted to bridge scenes and amplify rising female voices in the contemporary…
Apple Music Launches ‘The Sounds of Africa’ to Spotlight Five Music Capitals Across the Continent
Apple Music has unveiled its 2025 Africa Month campaign, “The Sounds of Africa” , a vibrant initiative spotlighting five of the continent’s most influential music capitals: Accra, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg. This campaign features exclusive playlists curated by top artists, industry executives, tastemakers, and media personalities, each capturing the unique sonic essence…
Nairobi Grooves: Mordecai Dex Headlines This Week’s Playlist Update
Nairobi’s sonic landscape is ever-evolving, and this week’s update to our Nairobi Grooves playlist captures the freshest, most dynamic sounds shaping the city’s music scene. Leading the charge as our cover star is none other than Mordecai Dex, whose latest single “Safari” cements his status as a force to watch in Kenya’s alternative and Afro-fusion…
South Africa’s Next Big SOUND: Exploring the Rise of 3-Step
During one of these sessions, I stumbled upon something that instantly stood out: 3-Step.
NIKITA KERING’ UNVEILS GROUNDBREAKING COLLABORATION IN KAMA HAUNA
Nikita Kering’, one of East Africa’s most celebrated voices, has officially unveiled her latest single, “Kama Hauna,”
Vallerie Muthoni Teams Up With Lil Maina and Kahvinya For A Powerful Collab On “Shake”
Kenyan-American singer-rapper, dancer, and award-winning creative director Vallerie Muthoni, is thrilled to announce the release of her new track “Shake,”